Why Would Anyone Preorder A Console?

[Madman123456]

Last console i pre ordered was a sega saturn, wasn't worth it because everyone wanted to have 3d games and so sega hastily modified their console which resulted in the 3d games looking even shittier then they looked already.

So i pre ordered the thing and then found out that the company that made it made some mistakes and then they continued to make astounding mistakes later on. Which hampered the flow of new games for my machine.

With quite a lot of good games coming out for the other consoles and some more questionable business decisions made by sega it dawned on me that it might have been more prudent to no pre order.

Nowadays that decision is rather easy...

 

[Megacherv]

When you can get a gaming PC capable of 1440 p for as little as $700 I don't understand why anyone would even buy a console to begin with.

One reason I can see is the price but with everything so much more expensive on console, and with the way you have to replace consoles more often than you have to upgrade PCs, and with all the great PC exclusives that are coming out and the way so many console games just get ported anyway, the only reason I can see to buy a console is brand loyalty or to get a particular exclusive you just have to play.

$700 is the reason why they buy consoles

Also, you tend to replace consoles every 7 years, PC upgrades happen way more frequently than that (3-4 years and hardware is classed as Legacy)

Also, not everyone really likes the PC exclusives. The majority of exclusives are Strategy games or indie games, and the big 3 are really wanting to drag the indies to the consoles now (writing this after just being at PlatformExpo in the UK and have seen the Sony and Microsoft people showing this attitude first hand)

 

[Compatriot Block]

This is the most annoying Escapist phase in a while, I think.

You know it is possible to choose not to buy a console on launch without heaping on a ton of condescension right? Even ignoring the people who have already pointed out that early adopters are what keep the console alive, you have to realize that when you refer to other people as peasants (and yes, that is a quote from another thread), you make yourself look like an ass.

By the way, to everyone who is waiting on buying a PS4, you're welcome. People like me who bought it now are making sure those good games you're waiting for actually happen.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

So you can get it immediately.

There might be something to say for the first wave being defective, though I can only really remember that being an issue with the 360. The price drop won't come for a long ass time, so unless you really have patience you can throw that idea out of the window.

It's a completely subjective thing, a judgement call that everyone makes. Personally, NBA 2k14 alone makes me want a PS4. Unfortunately I went and bought a car, so I have no money and massive 1st world problems. Otherwise, I would put an order down.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

I get asked these types of questions a LOT and the answers always the same....Well why the hell not?

Why do want to buy a PS4? Why did you spend £700 on a new gaming rig? Why do you want to buy that car? Why did you spend all that money going to Japan? Why did you buy that phone? Why do you eat there when its expensive? Why are you going out with that girl when shes a bit odd? Why do you work there when you dont like it? Why do you keep picking your nose?

I give the same answer always, "Because I want to, why not?"

Very well answered. Are you sure you don't want to have a crack at some amateur psychology though?

Personally, I would love a ps4, especially after having seen NBA 2k14 running on one. Unfortunately, I bought a car and insist on eating.

 

[Flutterguy]

If people don't adopt consoles early, said console won't get support from developers. The console will struggle and flop around for a year or two, before dying out and fading away.

One second let me have a swig from my care cup, oh no its empty. Well I'm sorry I tried caring.

I've gone over a year now without a console, the only drag is when friends come over we have to get stoned and watch movies. Which is preferable to playing MvC3 and yelling about cheap strategies, although I do miss giving my friends the old Frank Best beatdown.

 

[sth1729]

It kinda makes sense with consoles because retailers can't keep extremely large numbers of consoles in stock simply due to them taking up too much room, thus space limits supply and makes it a reasonable idea to pre-order to help ensure that limited supply doesn't run out before they can get one.

As for issues at launch I usually see it one of three different lights. One is the person who didn't care about or expect launch issues enough to stop them from getting a hold of the console[die-hard fans or those interested in seeing what games on the console look like]. Second are those who are interested in seeing the console itself and picking it apart and finding out how all the little thingies and such work[Hardware tech people and such]. Last is just wanting to see what kind of problems are common on a launch and how a company prioritizes which problems to fix first[probably people interested in working in the gaming industry].
A vast majority are gonna be in the first category but the other two might make up a noticeable portion of pre-orders as well.

 

[Olas]

Because some people would actually be satisfied with their purchase? I mean, hey why buy Games when they release, or watch movies when they come out, just wait a few years and it'll all be cheaper.

Couldn't agree more, not only do you save tons of money, but you also get the benefit of games actually working properly from the start, plus GOTY packages and things of that nature.

But of course who would want that when we could wait for hours in lines to buy everything when it's expensive and broken.

 

[unindexedsearchengine]

EDIT: *ahem*

What I mean to say is, in the most polite way possible, is that at least one other thread with an identical question was posted in the past 24 hours. Please educate yourself in the proper use of this website's search function, as it serves a purpose, and is not indented as merely a cosmetic feature.
Have a nice day.

 

[BQE]

Literally this same fucking thread popped up during today at least once.
Learn how to use the bloody search feature. It's not there just to look pretty.

The other thread belongs to the OP as well.

 

[Something Amyss]

Even if he wasn't you're still right. Though I think preordering consoles in general has a different answer to preordering this gens consoles. Not even I can guess why anyone would preorder the PS4 and Xbone.

You really really want to play Titanfall, but don't want Windows 8 on your PC?

...Yeah, that's pretty much all I got.

 

[kilenem]

I would tell people not to do it but New tech helps out the economy and keeps people employed

 

[Something Amyss]

I would tell people not to do it but New tech helps out the economy and keeps people employed

Pre-orders aren't necessary for new tech to stimulate the economy, however.

I mean, hey why buy Games when they release, or watch movies when they come out, just wait a few years and it'll all be cheaper.

Of course, the analogy breaks down a bit with movies. Movies, like most media, rarely suffer crippling flaws at launch. You're not paying extra for faulty material, in short. Games seem an even worse example because if you pre-ordered a broken game until recently, there was a good chance you were stuck with a lemon.

 

[Psychobabble]

I would tell people not to do it but New tech helps out the economy and keeps people employed

Pre-orders aren't necessary for new tech to stimulate the economy, however.

I mean, hey why buy Games when they release, or watch movies when they come out, just wait a few years and it'll all be cheaper.

Of course, the analogy breaks down a bit with movies. Movies, like most media, rarely suffer crippling flaws at launch. You're not paying extra for faulty material, in short. Games seem an even worse example because if you pre-ordered a broken game until recently, there was a good chance you were stuck with a lemon.

It would almost be worth it if they were though. "Damn it! My theater got the buggy version of the Avengers where Loki wins and Black Widow was played by Jack Black."

Sigh. It unfortunately boils down to some people just have to have their new shiny cheap plastic shit. Doesn't matter if it actually works as intended.

 

[Elijin]

I dont get the 'They only have 10-20 games on launch!' point.

How much time are you dedicating to gaming? How quickly are you consuming this media? Are you playing them until you're happy with them, or playing them until the 'story end' or 'finish'?

This gen will be my first time purchasing a console on day 1. I thought about it for the months leading up, decided I would put away a bit of money frequently and see how things looked closer to release. I can afford it, and would like to own one during the holiday period, so I put down a pre-order. On the release day, I dont have to worry about getting to the store first, or them running out of stock. I can be confident that when my day allows it, I can pop by the store and pick up my product at my convenience.

And then, when time permits, I can have a look at one or two of those launch titles that caught my interest and sold me on the idea of having one now instead of later.

I really dont get the people who look down on others for buying something they dont. I mean, Im not saying they're for everyone, nor should you all have one. But the outright disdain and looking down noses at each other over the decisions we make in regards to non-essential consumer goods? Well, its a quick look into a lot of whats wrong with most internet and gaming communities.

 

[Godhead]

People want something new, or people want to try and play the market and re-sell on day one.

 

[Gordon_4_v1legacy]

$700 is the reason why they buy consoles

Also, you tend to replace consoles every 7 years, PC upgrades happen way more frequently than that (3-4 years and hardware is classed as Legacy)

That isn't strictly true provided one makes as many future proofing decisions as possible. It's probably I'll be on the i5 3570 CPU for the foreseeable future (since it's only a year old), and my 16GB of RAM is no where near being insufficient. The major upgrade each time, is the Video Card and right now for me to upgrade would cost me half of what an X1 would cost. Nothing wrong with my case; my hard drives, my mouse or my keyboard. In fact I think the keyboard is close to a decade old.

I can see the attraction with consoles, especially if you have local friends and have built up a solid online presence and community and if your talents do not lie in the technical area then they represent a reasonably good investment to the gaming world. I just prefer my giant doom console

 

[Bat Vader]

So because I pre-ordered a PS4 that somehow brings into question my intelligence? I am judged to have a low intelligence because I wanted a PS4?

On-Topic: Why did I pre-order a PS4? Because I wanted one and I didn't want to run the risk of not being able to get one. Within the first 24 hours the stores in the small city I live in sold out of all the PS4 consoles they had in stock. Just out of curiosity I asked around and none of them had any precise dates as to when new shipments would be coming in. Yes, I am happy I pre-ordered my PS4 because it means I got one.

 

[ChorltontheDragon]

With all the marketing around, I can see why people would pre-order. Even I was tempted at a gamer expo I went to, but I was good!

I like what both consoles have to offer, but I have to say I really wouldn't know which one would be best. I like Xbox Live, the controller is great (particularly good on the PC), and I would like to carry over my gamertag and achievements but I know that PS4 is the better machine hardware wise. But the games haven't really grabbed my attention (apart from AC4 but I have that already).

So I have decided to leave it at least a year, wait for the bugs to be ironed out, see what the real reviews are from the actual users and then make my decision. Hopefully the price may have come down a little. I am quite happy to carry on with playing my games on the 360 and my PC.

 

[Sigmund Av Volsung]

Because of the hype-machine 3000!

And because the current gen has been stagnating in the graphics department for far too long.

Also because of the shiny.